2267: The Islamic answer to the leisure problem

What is the Islamic answer to
the leisure problem?

Praise be to Allaah.

The Islamic definition of spare time does not
include the idea that there can be times when a person is absolutely free of any
responsibility to do something useful and when he can waste time in ways that are of no
benefit. He has duties which he must perform, towards Allaah, may He be glorified, and
towards other people.

The Muslim has lots of ways in which he can fulfil these
duties in the manner required by sharee’ah; these ways will bring him great rewards,
and he is not hindered by difficult conditions or time restrictions.

Islam wants the Muslim, after fulfilling his obligatory
duties, to use his spare time for beneficial and fruitful pursuits which will help him to
draw closer to Allaah, from the moment he wakes until he goes to sleep. This will leave
him with no free time to pose a problem whereby he feels a need to fill it with activities
that will drain his energy or squander it in inappropriate ways.

This does not mean that human beings are to be kept busy in a
way that will exhaust and drain them… that is not one of the aims of Islam, as Islam
calls man to enjoy the good things and remember his share (of enjoyment) in this world.

Not everything with which a person may fill his time is
exhausting and energy-draining. One thing we may do is to spend time in quiet worship,
remembering Allaah in our hearts. Other things include taking a nap after Zuhr when it is
hot; spending time chatting about decent topics with family or friends in the evening;
visiting one another; joking in gentle and polite ways, and other forms of relaxation.

But it is important not to leave gaps where a person has
nothing to do, or which may be filled with evil, corrupt or foolish things. Islam
abolished the customs, festivals, celebrations and ways of life of the Jaahiliyyah, but it
did not leave a vacuum which the Muslims would not know how to fill, or which they may
fill with useless things without realizing it. On the contrary, Islam replaced those
things with other customs, festivals, celebrations and ways of life to fill the gap.
During the Jaahiliyyah, people used to gather to drink and gamble, or to worship idols, or
to listen to misguided poetry which did not speak of any worthwhile human concerns. But
Islam brought people together to worship Allaah by performing the prayer in congregation,
to learn and recite the Qur’aan together, to listen to the teachings of the Messenger
of Allaah
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), to visit one another, etc.
Previously, they had done evil and immoral acts during their festivals, but Islam
abolished all that and gave them instead festivals which were noble, pure and filled with
meaning and worthy aims.

During the early days of Islam, when family ties were cut
with Mushrikeen who had not yet become Muslim, the gap was filled by the close ties
between the believers, which took the place of kinship. The gap was truly filled, and the
ties of faith became equivalent to the ties of blood for the believers. When the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) established the mu’aakhah (brotherhood)
between the Muhaajireen and Ansaar, it reached such a degree that the Ansaar shared
everything they had with the Muhaajireen.

Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning);

“… and [they – the Ansaar] have no jealousy
in their hearts for that which they have been given (from the booty of Bani al-Nadeer),
and give them (emigrants) preference over themselves, even though they were in need of
that…” [al-Hashr 59:9]

It reached the extent that the people between whom the bond
of Mu’aakhah (brotherhood) was established could inherit from one another, and
so the believers did not feel that there was anything missing.

(Muhammad Qutub, Manhaj al-Tarbiyyah al-Islamiyyah,
1/206)

So this problem does not exist in the Islamic
way of life. The one who constantly remembers Allaah and worships Him cannot find any
empty time that needs to be filled. He is busy remembering Allaah and doing voluntary acts
of worship after doing what is obligatory. He keeps himself busy memorizing Qur’aan
and reciting it in worship of Allaah. He is busy visiting friends and loved ones, and
visiting the sick among his friends and acquaintances, or spending time having innocent
fun with his wife and children, or with fellow-believers.